'Sleepwalk' rapist caged for 6 years

'Sleepwalk' rapist caged for 6 years

Zack Thompson claimed he was sleepwalking when he raped a 17-year-old girl

Thompson has had nearly three years to admit what he did, but instead he chose to prolong the suffering and uncertainty for his victim

Det Con Paul Winfield

Zack Thompson admitted he had attacked the teenager while on holiday in Portugal but claimed he had no memory of doing so.

He kept up his bizarre defence for nearly three years and only withdrew his claim after a sleep disorder expert rubbished it earlier this month.

Thompson was 18 when he raped the girl in Albufeira, Portugal, in 2009.

The victim reported the rape to police when she got back to the UK and Thompson soon handed himself in.

But he maintained he was asleep and therefore had no control over his actions.

After the 20-year-old was caged yesterday at Nottingham Crown Court, Det Con Paul Winfield said: “Thompson has had nearly three years to admit what he did, but instead he chose to prolong the suffering and uncertainty for his victim.”

In a statement after the hearing, the victim’s family said: “We are thrilled that justice has been done and that he will finally have to pay for what he did. But the ordeal does not end here.”

Thompson, of Newark, is thought to be just the second man in Britain, and the first in England, to have a sleepwalking defence successfully challenged.

John Docherty, 58, of Glasgow, was found guilty of attempting to murder his wife in 2011 despite claiming he was asleep.